Image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus

ABSTRACT

An image reading apparatus includesa housing;a transparent plate that is provided in an opening formed in an upper part of the housing and on which an original is placed;an image reading unit that is disposed inside the housing and that scans in a main scanning direction while moving in a sub-scanning direction to read an image of the original placed on the transparent plate;a flexible flat cable having one end that is connected to a control board on which an electronic component that is configured to process the image read by the image reading unit is mounted and the other end that is connected to the image reading unit, the flexible flat cable being configured to electrically connect the image reading unit and the control board, the flexible flat cable being disposed such that a width direction of the flexible flat cable crosses a surface of the transparent plate, the flexible flat cable being partially fixed to a side wall of the housing facing the image reading unit in the main scanning direction; anda holding portion configured to hold a part of the flexible flat cable, the holding portion holding the part between a part fixed to the side wall and the other end, of the flexible flat cable, the holding portion being formed on an end face of the image reading unit in the sub-scanning direction, whereinthe holding portion holds the flexible flat cable such that a distance in the main scanning direction between a position at which the holding portion holds a lower end of the flexible flat cable in the width direction and the side wall is longer than a distance in the main scanning direction between a position at which the holding portion holds an upper end of the flexible flat cable in the width direction and the side wall.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus suitable foran image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copyingmachine and a laser beam printer that forms an image on a recordingmedium using an electrophotographic process.

Description of the Related Art

In a flatbed type image reading apparatus, an image of an originalplaced on an original base plate glass is read by an image reading unit.The image reading unit includes a light emitting element and a lightreceiving element, and irradiates the original with light from the lightemitting element, receives the reflected light by the light receivingelement, converts the light into an electric signal, and performsscanning in the main scanning direction. The image reading unitcontinuously scans in the main scanning direction while moving in thesub-scanning direction along the original base plate glass, therebyreading an image of an original placed on the original base plate glass.

The electric signal output from the image reading unit is transmittedvia a flexible flat cable (hereinafter, also referred to as a “cable”)to a control board on which electronic components that are configured toprocess an image are mounted. Here, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.2018-14763 describes a configuration in which an upper side restrictingportion that contacts the cable from above and restricts the upwardmovement of the cable, and a lower side restricting portion thatcontacts the cable from below and restricts the downward movement of thecable are provided for the image reading unit. With the configuration,the image reading unit holds the cable, the vertical movement of thecable around the image reading unit is restricted, and the contactbetween the cable and the members around the image reading unit issuppressed.

In the configuration described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.2018-14763, part of the cable is fixed to the side wall, of the housingof the image reading apparatus, which is a side wall facing the imagereading unit in the main scanning direction of the image reading unit.In a case where the image reading unit moves in the sub-scanningdirection, when the image reading unit approaches a part, of the sidewall of the housing, to which the cable is fixed, the tension of a partbetween a part, of the cable, which is fixed to the side wall of thehousing and a part, of the cable, which is held by the image readingunit is small.

When the cable tension is small like this, the cable may bends, and itscurved portion may hang down due to its own weight and come into contactwith the bottom face of the housing of the image reading apparatus orother members. In this case, the cable may be worn due to slidingfriction between the cable and the housing or other members, which maycause disconnection of the cable or malfunction of the image readingunit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide an image readingapparatus capable of suppressing hanging down of a flexible flat cableconnecting an image reading unit and a control board.

In a typical configuration of the present invention, an image readingapparatus includes a housing; a transparent plate that is provided in anopening formed in an upper part of the housing and on which an originalis placed; an image reading unit that is disposed inside the housing andthat scans in a main scanning direction while moving in a sub-scanningdirection to read an image of the original placed on the transparentplate; a flexible flat cable having one end that is connected to acontrol board on which an electronic component that is configured toprocess the image read by the image reading unit is mounted and theother end that is connected to the image reading unit, the flexible flatcable being configured to electrically connect the image reading unitand the control board, the flexible flat cable being disposed such thata width direction of the flexible flat cable crosses a surface of thetransparent plate on which the original is placed, the flexible flatcable being partially fixed to a side wall of the housing facing theimage reading unit in the main scanning direction; and a holding portionconfigured to hold a part of the flexible flat cable, the holdingportion holding the part between a part fixed to the side wall and theother end, of the flexible flat cable, the holding portion being formedon an end face of the image reading unit in the sub-scanning direction,wherein the holding portion holds the flexible flat cable such that adistance in the main scanning direction between a position at which theholding portion holds a lower end of the flexible flat cable in thewidth direction and the side wall is longer than a distance in the mainscanning direction between a position at which the holding portion holdsan upper end of the flexible flat cable in the width direction and theside wall.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an image forming apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a reader;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the reader with the upper housingremoved;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the reader with the upper housing removed;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an image reading unit;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are a perspective view and a front view of a cableholding portion;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are sectional views of the reader;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the reader;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are sectional views of the reader according to acomparative example;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the reader;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the image reading unit;

FIGS. 12A and 12B are a perspective view and a front view of the cableholding portion; and

FIGS. 13A and 13B are sectional views of the reader.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment <Image FormingApparatus>

Hereinafter, an overall configuration of an image forming apparatusincluding an image reading apparatus according to a first embodiment ofthe present invention will be described with reference to the drawingstogether with an operation at the time of image formation. Note thatdimensions, materials, shapes, relative dispositions, and the like ofthe components described below are not intended to limit the scope ofthe present invention unless otherwise specified.

An image forming apparatus A according to the embodiment is anintermediate tandem system image forming apparatus in which an image istransferred and formed onto a sheet after toners of four colors ofyellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, and black K are transferred onto anintermediate transfer belt. In the following description, while Y, M, C,and K are added as subscripts to members using the toner of each colordescribed above, configurations or operations of the members aresubstantially the same except that colors of the toner are differentfrom each other. Therefore, the subscripts are omitted as appropriateunless distinction is required.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an image forming apparatus A. Asshown in FIG. 1, an image reading portion 100 that reads an image of anoriginal is provided on the upper part of the image forming apparatus A.The image reading portion 100 includes a reader 1 and an ADF 99. The ADF99 is rotatably supported by a hinge (not shown) with respect to thereader 1, and can access an original base plate glass 2 of the reader 1by rotating the ADF 99 to open it upward.

When reading an original image with the ADF 99, the user stacks theoriginals on an original tray 99 a, and issues an instruction to readthe original via the operation portion (not shown), so that the ADF 99reads the original image while automatically feeding the original. Whenreading the image of the original with reader 1, the user places theoriginal on the original base plate glass 2, and issues an instructionto read the original via the operation portion (not shown), so that thereader 1 reads the original image. The detailed configuration of thereader 1 will be described later.

Further, an image forming apparatus A includes an image forming portionthat transfers a toner image to the sheet S to form an image. The imageforming portion includes photosensitive drums 51 (51Y, 51M, 51C, 51K),charging rollers 52 (52Y, 52M, 52C, 52K), and developing devices 53(53Y, 53M, 53C, 53K). Further, it includes primary transfer rollers 55(55Y, 55M, 55C, 55K), a laser scanner unit 98, an intermediate transferbelt 56, a secondary transfer roller 16, a secondary transfer counterroller 12, a driving roller 17, and the like.

A controller board (not shown) is attached to the frame on the back sideof an apparatus main body 50 of the image forming apparatus A, where theframe supports the photosensitive drums 51. The controller board is anelectronic board for performing various controls such as imageprocessing, communication with an external device, and control of apower supply board (not shown). In this controller board, imageprocessing of converting the image of the original read by the imagereading portion 100 into image data, and image processing of generatingimage data based on an image input from an external device areperformed. The image processing includes a process of converting RGB toYMCK, a density correction process, a magnification correction process,a color shift correction process, and the like.

Next, an image forming operation by the image forming apparatus A willbe described. When an image is formed, first, an image forming jobsignal is input to the controller board. As a result, a feed roller 11and a conveying roller 85 rotate, and the sheets S stacked and stored ina sheet cassette 10 are sent out to a registration roller 86. Next, thesheet S is sent by a registration roller 86 to a secondary transferportion formed by the secondary transfer roller 16 and the secondarytransfer counter roller 12 at a predetermined timing.

On the other hand, in the image forming portion, first, the surface ofthe photosensitive drum 51Y is charged by the charging roller 52Y. Afterthat, the laser scanner unit 98 irradiates the surface of thephotosensitive drum 51Y with laser light in accordance with the imagesignal of the image of the original read by the image reading portion100 to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of thephotosensitive drum 51Y. After that, yellow toner is attached to theelectrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitivedrum 51Y by the developing device 53Y to form a yellow toner image onthe surface of the photosensitive drum 51Y. The toner image formed onthe surface of the photosensitive drum 51Y is primarily transferred tothe intermediate transfer belt 56 by applying a primary transfer bias tothe primary transfer roller 55Y.

By the same process, magenta, cyan, and black toner images are formed onthe photosensitive drums 51M, 51C, and 51K. Then, by applying a primarytransfer bias to the primary transfer rollers 55M, 55C, and 55K, thesetoner images are transferred in a superposed manner on the yellow tonerimage on the intermediate transfer belt 56. As a result, a full-colortoner image corresponding to the image signal is formed on the surfaceof the intermediate transfer belt 56.

After that, the intermediate transfer belt 56 moves circularly by thedriving force transmitted from the driving roller 17, so that thefull-color toner image is sent to the secondary transfer portion. In thesecondary transfer portion, a secondary transfer bias is applied to thesecondary transfer roller 16, whereby the full-color toner image on theintermediate transfer belt 56 is transferred to the sheet S.

Next, the sheet S to which the toner image has been transferred issubjected to a heating and pressing process in a fixing device 15,whereby the toner image on the sheet S is fixed to the sheet S. Afterthat, the sheet S on which the toner image is fixed is discharged to adischarge portion 57 by a discharge roller 13.

<Reader>

Next, the configuration of the reader 1, which is an image readingapparatus, will be described.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the reader 1. FIGS. 3 and 4 are aperspective view and a top view of the reader 1 in a state where anupper housing 6 a which is part of a housing 6 of the reader 1 isremoved. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the reader 1 includes a substantiallyrectangular parallelepiped housing 6 including the upper housing 6 a anda lower housing 6 b. The upper housing 6 a includes an opening 6 a 1,and the original base plate glass 2 (transparent plate) on which anoriginal is placed is fitted into the opening 6 a 1. The original baseplate glass 2 is a transparent glass plate having a light-transmittingproperty in a rectangular plate shape larger than the maximum size ofthe original, and is disposed such that an upper surface 2 a on whichthe original is placed extends in a substantially horizontal direction.

In addition, an image reading unit 3 that reads an image of an originalplaced on the upper surface 2 a of the original base plate glass 2, anda guide shaft 8 extending in the sub-scanning direction of the imagereading unit 3 are provided inside the housing 6. Further, a steppingmotor 39 and a driving gear 41 attached to a rotation shaft 39 a of thestepping motor 39 are provided. Also, a driven gear 42 that meshes withthe driving gear 41, a pulley 43 disposed coaxially with the driven gear42 and rotating integrally with the driven gear 42, a pulley 44 that ispaired with the pulley 43 are provided. A rotation belt 45 is suspendedbetween the pulley 43 and the pulley 44.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the image reading unit 3. As shown inFIG. 5, the image reading unit 3 includes an image reading sensor 31 anda holder 33 that holds swingably the image reading sensor 31 in thevertical direction. The image reading sensor 31 includes a lightemitting element (not shown) that irradiates the original with light,and a light receiving element (not shown) that receives the lightreflected from the original and converts it to an electric signal.

The image reading sensor 31 irradiates an original with light from thelight emitting element, receives the reflected light from the lightreceiving element, converts the reflected light into an electric signal,and performs scanning in the main scanning direction. The image readingunit 3 continuously performs scanning in the main scanning direction bythe image reading sensor 31 while moving in the sub-scanning directionalong the original base plate glass, thereby reading the image of theoriginal placed on the original base plate glass 2. Further, spacers 32are attached to the upper surfaces of both ends of the image readingsensor 31 in the main scanning direction. The spacer 32 contacts thelower surface of the original base plate glass 2 and keeps the distancebetween the image reading sensor 31 and the original placed on theoriginal base plate glass 2 constant.

Further, the electric signal generated by the image reading sensor 31 istransmitted to a controller board (not shown) which is a control boardprovided in the apparatus main body 50 of the image forming apparatus Athrough a flexible flat cable 5 (hereinafter, referred to as a “cable5”). Electronic components for controlling the processing of image dataof the original and the driving of the stepping motor 39 are mounted onthe controller board. Part of the cable 5 is fixed to a side wall 6 b 1,of the lower housing 6 b, facing the image reading unit 3 in the mainscanning direction of the image reading unit 3 with a double-sided tape.Then, it is bent from the fixed part, passes through the opening 6 b 2of the side wall 6 b 1, is crawled out of the lower housing 6 b, and isconnected to the controller board.

That is, the cable 5 has one end connected to the controller board, theother end connected to the image reading unit 3, and electricallyconnects the two ends. The cable 5 is connected, via a connector (notshown), to the electronic board (not shown) on which the image readingsensor 31 of the image reading unit 3 is mounted and the controllerboard. The electronic board on which the image reading sensor 31 ismounted is disposed inside the holder 33.

In the holder 33, a cable holding portion 332 that holds part of thecable 5 is formed on an end face of the image reading unit 3 in thesub-scanning direction. When the cable 5 is inserted into an insertionslot 332 a of the cable holding portion 332, the cable 5 enters theholder 33, and the end of the cable 5 is connected to the electronicboard on which the image reading sensor 31 is mounted. That is, thecable holding portion 332 holds a part between a part, of the cable 5,fixed to the side wall 6 b 1 and the end, of the cable 5, connected tothe image reading unit 3. Also, a part between the part, of the cable 5,fixed to the side wall 6 b 1 and a part, of the cable 5, held by theholder 33 is disposed so that the width direction thereof crosses theupper surface 2 a of the original base plate glass 2. Note that thewidth direction of the cable 5 is a direction orthogonal to thelongitudinal direction and the thickness direction of the cable 5, andcan also be referred to as the lateral direction of the cable 5.

The holder 33 has a bearing portion 331 loosely fitted to the guideshaft 8 and a connecting portion 333 connected to the rotation belt 45.The rotation belt 45 has a projection portion (not shown), and theprojection portion is fitted to the connecting portion 333 to beconnected to the connecting portion 333. When the stepping motor 39 isdriven, the driving force is transmitted to the rotation belt 45 via thedriving gear 41, the driven gear 42, and the pulleys 43 and 44, so thatthe rotation belt 45 moves circularly. As the rotation belt 45 movescircularly, the image reading unit 3 connected to the rotation belt 45moves in the sub-scanning direction while being guided by the guideshaft 8.

<Cable Holding Portion>

Next, the configuration of the cable holding portion 332 will bedescribed in detail.

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the cable holding portion 332. FIG. 6Bis a front view of the cable holding portion 332. As shown in FIGS. 6Aand 6B, the cable holding portion 332 is formed so as to protrude fromthe end face of the holder 33 in the sub-scanning direction of the imagereading unit 3. The insertion slot 332 a of the cable holding portion332 is inclined in a direction away from the side wall 6 b 1 of thelower housing 6 b from the upper end to the lower end in the verticaldirection.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are sectional views of the reader 1 taken along K1-K1line shown in FIG. 2. Here, FIG. 7B is an enlarged view of a regionsurrounded by a dashed line in FIG. 7A. FIG. 8 is a sectional view ofthe reader 1 taken along K2-K2 line shown in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 7, the distance in the main scanning direction of theimage reading unit 3 between a position at which the cable holdingportion 332 holds the upper end of the cable 5 in the width directionand the side wall 6 b 1 is set to L1. Further, the distance in the mainscanning direction of the image reading unit 3 between a position atwhich the cable holding portion 332 holds the lower end of the cable 5in the width direction and the side wall 6 b 1 is set to L2.

At this time, since the insertion slot 332 a is inclined as describedabove with respect to the vertical direction, the cable holding portion332 holds the cable 5 so that the relationship of L1>L2 is satisfied.That is, the cable holding portion 332 holds the cable 5 so that thedistance L2 in the main scanning direction between a position at whichthe cable holding portion 332 holds the lower end of the cable 5 in thewidth direction and the side wall 6 b 1 is longer than the distance L1in the main scanning direction between a position at which the cableholding portion 332 holds the upper end of the cable 5 in the widthdirection and the side wall 6 b 1.

With this configuration, the tension at the lower end of the cable 5 inthe width direction is higher than the tension at the upper end of thecable 5 in a part between a part, of the cable 5, fixed to the side wall6 b 1 and a part, of the cable 5, held by the cable holding portion 332.As described above, when the tension at the lower end, of the cable 5,in the width direction is larger than the tension at the upper end, ofthe cable 5, in the width direction, a restoring force F is generated atthe upper end of the cable 5 in the width direction. The restoring forceF is a resultant force of the longitudinal component Fx and the upwardcomponent Fy of the cable 5.

That is, the relationship of the vertical force applied to a partbetween a part, of the cable 5, fixed to the side wall 6 b 1 in thelongitudinal direction and a part, of the cable 5, held by the cableholding portion 332 is as follows. That is, the upward component Fy ofthe restoring force F as an upward force in the vertical direction isapplied to the cable 5. Further, a force Fg due to its own weight of thecable 5 as a downward force in the vertical direction is applied. Theinclination angle of the insertion slot 332 a of the cable holdingportion 332 is set so that the relationship of Fy=Fg is satisfied asmuch as possible. Here, the inclination angle of the insertion slot 332a of the cable holding portion 332 with respect to the verticaldirection is desirably 5 degrees to 20 degrees.

As described above, by applying the upward force in the verticaldirection to the cable 5 by the cable holding portion 332, it ispossible to suppress hanging down of the cable 5 due to gravity.Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, a contact between the cable 5 and abottom face 6 b 3 of the lower housing 6 b is suppressed, and it ispossible to suppress disconnection of the cable 5 and malfunction of theimage reading unit 3.

Next, the effect of the configuration of the present embodiment will bedescribed in comparison with the configuration of a reader 500 accordingto the comparative example in which the insertion slot 332 a of thecable holding portion 332 extends in the vertical direction. FIG. 9A isa sectional view of the reader 500 according to the comparative exampletaken along line K1-K1 in FIG. 1. FIG. 9B is a sectional view of thereader 500 according to the comparative example taken along line K2-K2in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 9A, in the configuration of the comparative example,the relationship between the distances L1 and L2 satisfies L1=L2 becausethe insertion slot 332 a of the cable holding portion 332 is notinclined with respect to the vertical direction. In this case, since thetension at the upper end of the cable 5 in the width direction and thetension at the lower end of the cable 5 in the width direction areequal, the restoring force F does not occur. That is, considering therelationship of the vertical force applied to the cable 5, the upwardforce in the vertical direction is not applied, and only the force Fgdue to the own weight of the cable 5 as the downward force in thevertical direction is applied. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9B, the cable5 hangs down and comes into contact with the bottom face 6 b 3 of thelower housing 6 b. On the other hand, according to the configuration ofthe present embodiment, it is possible to keep the cable 5 from hangingdown as described above.

Second Embodiment

Next, a second embodiment of an image forming apparatus including theimage reading apparatus according to the present invention will bedescribed with reference to the drawings. Parts that are the same as inthe first embodiment will be denoted by the same drawings and the samereference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the reader 1 according to the presentembodiment. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the image reading unit 3according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, theconfiguration of the present embodiment is the same as that of the firstembodiment except the configuration of the cable holding portion of theimage reading unit 3 included in the reader 1.

FIG. 12A is a perspective view of a cable holding portion 532 of theimage reading unit 3 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 12B is afront view of the cable holding portion 532. As shown in FIGS. 12A and12B, the cable holding portion 532 has an adhering face 532 a to whichthe cable 5 is adhered, a positioning plate 532 b that determines theadhering position, of the adhering face 532 a, at which the cable 5 isadhered, and an insertion slot 532 c into which the cable 5 is inserted.

The cable 5 is adhered to the adhering face 532 a with a double-sidedtape (not shown). At the contact position between the cable 5 and theadhering face 532 a, the entire area of the cable 5 may be adhered tothe adhering face 532 a, or the partial area of the cable 5 may beadhered to the adhering face 532 a. The insertion slot 532 c is a holeformed in the adhering face 532 a, and is a hole extending along thevertical direction. The cable 5 inserted into the insertion slot 532 centers the holder 33 and is connected to the electronic board on whichthe image reading sensor 31 is mounted.

The positioning plate 532 b (positioning portion) is configured toprotrude in a direction crossing the adhering face 532 a. Thepositioning plate 532 b has an upper positioning portion 532 b 1 thatdetermines the adhering position of the upper end of the adhering face532 a in the width direction of the cable 5 and a lower positioningportion 532 b 2 that determines the adhering position of the lower end.The upper positioning portion 532 b 1 extends so as to change itsposition upward in the vertical direction as the distance from the sidewall 6 b 1 increases. Similarly, the lower positioning portion 532 b 2extends so as to change its position upward in the vertical direction asthe distance from the side wall 6 b 1 increases. The upper positioningportion 532 b 1 and the lower positioning portion 532 b 2 are connectedby a connecting portion 532 b 3.

FIG. 13A is a sectional view of the reader 1 taken along the line K1-K1shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 13B is a sectional view of the reader 1 takenalong the line K2-K2 shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 13A, the distancein the main scanning direction of the image reading unit 3 between aposition at which the cable holding portion 532 holds the upper end ofthe cable 5 in the width direction and the side wall 6 b 1 is set to L1.Further, the distance in the main scanning direction of the imagereading unit 3 between a position at which the cable holding portion 532holds the lower end of the cable 5 in the width direction and the sidewall 6 b 1 is set to L2.

At this time, the cable holding portion 532 holds the cable 5 so thatthe relationship of L1>L2 is satisfied. This is because since the upperpositioning portion 532 b 1 and the lower positioning portion 532 b 2extend so that their positions changes upward in the vertical directionas the distance from the side wall 6 b 1 increases, the relation ofL1>L2 is satisfied when the rectangular parallelepiped cable 5 isadhered to the adhering face 532 a. This embodiment has a configurationin which while the insertion slot 532 c extends along the verticaldirection, the cable 5 is inclined in a direction away from the sidewall 6 b 1 of the lower housing 6 b from the upper end to the lower endin the vertical direction, so that the cable 5 is less likely tointerfere with the inner wall of the insertion slot 532 c.

With such a configuration, the upward force in the vertical directioncan be applied to the cable 5 by the cable holding portion 532 by thesame mechanism as in the first embodiment. Therefore, as shown in FIG.13B, it is possible to suppress hanging down of the cable 5 due togravity and coming into contact with the bottom face 6 b 3 of the lowerhousing 6 b, and it is possible to suppress disconnection of the cable 5and malfunction of the image reading unit 3.

In addition, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, althoughthe configuration in which the controller board for processing the imagedata of the original is provided in the apparatus main body 50 of theimage forming apparatus A has been described, the present invention isnot limited to this. That is, even when the reader 1 is provided withthe controller board, the same effect as described above can beobtained.

Further, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, although theconfiguration in which the cable holding portions 332 and 532 areprovided in the holder 33 that is the housing of the image reading unit3 has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. Thatis, an electronic board is disposed at the end face of the image readingunit 3 in the sub-scanning direction, the image reading sensor 31 ismounted on the electronic board, and a connector to which the cable 5 isconnected is provided on the electronic board. Then, the connecting partof the connector to which the cable 5 is connected is disposed so as tobe inclined in the direction away from the side wall 6 b 1 of the lowerhousing 6 b from the upper end to the lower end in the verticaldirection, the same effect as above can be obtained.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2019-128945, filed Jul. 11, 2019, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

1.-4. (canceled)
 5. An image reading apparatus comprising: a housing; atransparent plate that is provided in an opening formed in an upper partof the housing and on which an original is placed; an image reading unitthat is disposed inside the housing and that scans in a main scanningdirection while moving in a sub-scanning direction to read an image ofthe original placed on the transparent plate; and a flexible flat cablehaving one end that is connected to a control board and the other endthat is connected to the image reading unit, the flexible flat cablebeing disposed such that a width direction of the flexible flat cablecrosses a surface of the transparent plate, the flexible flat cablebeing partially fixed to a side wall of the housing facing the imagereading unit in the main scanning direction, wherein a side of the imagereading unit has an inclined portion which inclines a part of theflexible flat cable so as to make the width direction of the flexibleflat cable crosses in a vertical direction.
 6. The image readingapparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a protruding portionthat protrudes in the sub-scanning direction from the side surface ofthe image reading unit and that extends such that a position of theprotruding portion changes upward in the vertical direction as adistance from the side wall increases, wherein wherein the flexible flatcable is disposed so that a part of the flexible cable follows theprotruding portion.
 7. The image reading apparatus according to claim 5,wherein the protruding portion includes a first protruding portion and asecond protruding portion, wherein the first protruding portion abuts toone end of the flexible flat cable in the width direction, and whereinthe second protruding portion abuts to the other end of the flexibleflat cable in the width direction.
 8. An image reading apparatuscomprising: a housing; a transparent plate that is provided in anopening formed in an upper part of the housing and on which an originalis placed; an image reading unit that is disposed inside the housing andthat scans in a main scanning direction while moving in a sub-scanningdirection to read an image of the original placed on the transparentplate; a flexible flat cable having one end that is connected to acontrol board and the other end that is connected to the image readingunit, the flexible flat cable being disposed such that a width directionof the flexible flat cable crosses a surface of the transparent plate,the flexible flat cable being partially fixed to a side wall of thehousing facing the image reading unit in the main scanning direction;and a protruding portion that protrudes in the sub-scanning directionfrom a side surface of the image reading unit and that extends such thata position of the protruding portion changes upward in a verticaldirection as a distance from the side wall increases, wherein theflexible flat cable is disposed so that a part of the flexible cablefollows the protruding portion.